Illusion, stability, trust, harmony, affinity, rectification and new circumstances. The president of Barcelona, ??Joan Laporta, and the Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernández, clung to these concepts to justify the change of script and the continuity of the coach next season. “Circumstances have changed. I have the energy, the strength and the desire to continue. They say that rectifying is wise and that’s what we’re here for. This project has already won and can continue to win,” argued Xavi, who stated that “in two or three minutes we came to an agreement at Laporta’s house.” Meanwhile, the president wanted to be just as emphatic: “Xavi continues because he gave me absolute confidence in the project, great ambition and great enthusiasm. This project is not finished. The coach has the full confidence of the board and the sports management headed by Deco. Furthermore, stability is very important. As president, whenever I have opted for stability, things have tended to go well.”
Laporta was reminded that he said that losing would have consequences. The leader considers that although Xavi follows his speech, it was and is coherent. “The consequences of losing is that we are going to make a series of changes and adjustments of various kinds together with Deco and Xavi. We are not going to give clues about these changes but we are going to try to improve. “I’m not going to give pleasure to those who want to blow everything up.”
These changes, according to Xavi, will not affect his work team. “My staff is going to continue with me. It is a very prepared staff, very involved, very Barcelona-oriented and very grateful, there will be no changes in the technical staff.” Another question is whether there are modifications in physical preparation and in the area of ??methodology.
The coach stressed that “I have not placed any conditions on the club to continue although we will try to strengthen ourselves within our possibilities” and was outraged when asked if he wanted to collect the remaining year of his contract if he had not continued. “That’s not true, they say it to hurt me. I wouldn’t have charged a single euro. I already told the president on January 27 when I announced that I would not continue.” “I ratify Xavi’s words,” Laporta confirmed.
For the coach, the support of the squad has also been very important. “The players have been very important for my change of mind.” A change that has no reverse. “I will continue no matter what happens at the end of the season, saying that I am leaving and then not leaving will not happen again. I have a lot of strength because the team has improved and I think we can compete with the greats.”
The decision for Xavi to continue was not voted on by the board of directors. “At the meeting everyone gave their opinion but I needed to talk to Xavi. After speaking with him, all the managers were able to talk to Xavi and congratulate him. The managers are unanimously happy,” Laporta stated. Three months after saying that he was leaving, Xavi came to the following conclusion. “It was a wrong decision because now I think the opposite.”
